McLaughlin edges Mostert to Armor All pole

Scott McLaughlin scored his fourth Armor All pole position of the season after edging Prodrive’s Chaz Mostert in a hotly contested session at Babargallo Raceway.

McLaughlin pumped in a record 54.57 effort with six minutes of the 20 minute hit-out remaining which proved just enough to claim pole.

The DJR Team Penske driver jumped out of his car while the majority of the field completed their final runs.

“I was a bit worried but thankfully held onto it. I felt that that lap was basically all I could get out of it, and if anyone could beat me, good on them. I’m stoked,” said McLaughlin.

A flurry of fast times in the dying moments saw Mostert climb to second just 0.04s shy of McLaughlin.

“It is the best the car has felt all weekend,” said Mostert.

“Yesterday didn’t go to plan, the race car didn’t feel quite well and the qualifying car, but the boys did a brilliant job overnight to tidy this thing up and get the car back to feeling like it has the last couple of rounds.

“Overall I’m really ecstatic, Front row feels like a pole position after yesterday, see if we can put a little bit more pressure on those Shell guys.”

Prodrive enjoyed a much stronger showing in qualifying with Mark Winterbottom heading up the second row in third ahead of top Red Bull HRT runner Shane van Gisbergen.